Methods and apparatuses for casting polymer products

A method for forming a waveguide part, the method comprising:

• dispensing a photocurable material between a first mold portion and a second mold portion opposite the first mold portion;
• irradiating the photocurable material with radiation suitable for photocuring the photocurable material to form a cured waveguide film;
• singulating a portion of the cured waveguide film from the cured waveguide film;
• and
• annealing the singulated portion to provide the waveguide part,
• wherein the waveguide part has a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the cured waveguide film.

A method for forming a waveguide part, the method comprising:

• positioning a frame between a first mold portion and a second mold portion, the frame having a first rigidity, and the frame defining an aperture;
• dispensing a photocurable material into the aperture of the frame;
• irradiating the photocurable material in the aperture with radiation suitable for photocuring the photocurable material to form a cured waveguide film having a second rigidity different from the first rigidity;
• and
• singulating the waveguide part from the cured waveguide film by cutting a path along the frame, the path at least partially encircling the aperture, and extracting, from the frame along the path.